Fifth Generation

18. Elijah Goodner⁷ was born on 21 Jan 1804 in Sullivan County, Tennessee.⁷ Some believe that he was born in Smith County, Tennessee, and there is good reason for that belief. In November of 1803, his father sold his farm in Sullivan County to Benjamin Lee, but it was not recorded until May 27th, 1804. There is an uncertainty as to when his parents moved from Sullivan County. If Conrad moved from Sullivan County immediately after the sale, then Elijah would have been born in Smith County, if Conrad went there without stopping elsewhere. If he remained in Sullivan until after the deed was recorded, then Elijah would have been born in Sullivan County.
He lived in Smith County, Tennessee about 1805.⁷ He lived in Johnson County, Illinois about 1812.⁷ When he was about eight years of age, his parents moved again, this time to Johnson County, . Illinois. A short time later they moved to St. Clair County, Illinois, where they remained. So it was in Illinois that Elijah received his education, such as was then obtainable in the small country schools of the period.

He remained on his father's farm until his marriage to Mary Gore. It is thought that the young couple remained with his parents for a few years. He was farmer about 1823.⁷ He was hard worker and industrious, and became a successful land owner.
He served in the military between 1825 and 1832 in Saint Clair County, Illinois.⁷ He was an Ensign in the militia. He owned land between 1833 and 1846 in Washington County, Illinois.⁷ The records show that Elijah bought land in Washington County as early as 1833, which was prior to the time that he moved there. His name appears numerous times in real estate transactions, indicating that he must have dealt in real estate to some extent. Some of his early purchases are the following:
Elijah Goodner, Grantee, Carey Morgan, Grantor. Date of Instrument 9-20-1839. Date of Record 8-13-1840. Book B, Page 447.
Elijah Goodner, Grantee, James A. Brown, Grantor. Date of Instrument 3-23-1843. Date of Record 6-17 -1844. Book D, Page 162.
Elijah Goodner, Grantee, William D. Mitchell, Grantor. Date of Instrument 12-17 -1844. Date of Record 12-30-1844. Book D, Page 251.
Elijah Goodner, Grantee, John W. Holcomb, Grantor. Date of Instrument 12-27-1844. Date of Record 1-6-1845. Book D. Page 261.
Elijah Goodner, Grantee, Sheriff Vernor, Grantor. Date of Instrument 7-13-1846. Date of Record 8-20-1846. Book E, Page 138.
He lived in Belle Rive, Jefferson County, Illinois about 1865.⁷ He lived in Irvington, Washington County, Illinois.⁷ It is not known when his second wife died, but after her death, Elijah made his home with his son, James Thompson Goodner, who was residing in Irvington, Washington County.
It was about the time that his father lost his farm in St. Clair County because of lack of good title that Elijah Moved to Washington County. He had lived in the same neighborhood as did his father. On moving, he took his parents with him, and they resided with him until their death. He settled about three miles south of Nashville. Moving to Washington County at the same time was his brother, Francis, and his sister, Elizabeth, and her husband, John Holcomb. Jacob was already living in Washington County. Benjamin was then the only brother still living in St. Clair County.
He died on 2 Mar 1892 in Irvington, Washington County, Illinois.⁷ For thirteen years prior to his death, Elijah was deprived of his sight.
He was buried in New Hope Cemetery, Belle Rive, Jefferson County, Illinois.⁷ He had his estate probated in 1894 in Jefferson County, Illinois.⁷ Elijah died intestate, but Administration papers covering his Estate are on file in Jefferson County, Illinois. They reveal the following information:-
Date of death: March 2nd, 1892.
He left no widow.
Richard G. Wall, Administrator.
State of Illinois) SS.
Jefferson County) County Court of Jefferson County to the December Term, A; died 1894.
Richard G. Wall, Adm. of the Estate of Elijah Goodner Deceased.
James T. Goodner, William R. Bennett, James M. McReynolds, Rose A. Cherry, Ella Guthrie, Elsa L Crowder, Marinda E. Ham, Samuel T. Laird, Albert McReynolds, Laura A. Wall, Sarah A. Shields, Elmer Crowder, William B. Goodner, Cora E. Laird, Orpha Shipley, Nettie A. Foster , Millard Goodner, Lillie McMahan.
Petition to Sell Real Estate to Pay Debts.
Affidavit of the non-residence of William H. Goodner, Sarah A. Shields, Cora E. Laird, Lillie McMahan, & Millard Goodner.
Real Estate consisted of lots numbered two, three, and four on Block #24 in the village of Belle Rive, Illinois, Jefferson County.
Mt. Vernon, Illinois, September, 26th, 1894. Those E. Westcott, Clerk.
The Administration papers show that William ~ Bennett was a lunatic in the insane asylum in Anna, Illinois.
Surviving children were: James T. Goodner, Rose A. Cherry, Marinda E. Ham, Laura A. Wall and William B. Goodner.
Surviving grandchildren were: Nettie A. Foster, James McReynolds, Albert McReynolds, Orpha Shipley, and William R. Bennett, and children of Sarah C. McReynolds (née Goodner), Deceased, and Ella (Elsa) Guthrie, Samuel T. Laird, Sarah A. Shields and Cora E. Laird, grandchildren and children of Martha A. Laird (née Goodner) deceased.
Elsa D. Crowder served with summons by Sheriff in Menard County.
William A. Bennett served with summons by Sheriff of Union County.
That William B. Goodner, Sarah A. Shields, Cora E. Laird, Lillie McMahon, and Millard Goodner are non-residents of Illinois. William B. Goodner resided in Howard, Elk County, Kansas. Sarah A. Shields resided in Evergreen, Alabama. Cora E. Laird resided in Evansville, Indiana, and Lillie McMahon resided in New Decatur, Alabama.
James T. Goodner put in a claim against the estate for:
Dec. 3rd, 1894.
To boarding and clothing, deceased, from May 1890 to March 2nd, 1892, 22 months at $10. 00 per month. $220.00

Laura A. Wall had claim against the estate of:
To Money loaned 1867 100.00 80.00
By cash paid, Sept. 25th, 1891 20.00

Elijah Goodner and Mary Ann Gore were married on 16 Dec 1823 in Johnson County, Illinois.⁷ They lived in Saint Clair County, Illinois between 1825 and 1832.⁷ In 1832, he sold his farm and moved to Washington County.
They lived in Washington County, Illinois between 1832 and 1852.⁷

19. Mary Ann Gore^7,21 was born in Tennessee.²¹ She died before 1852.⁷ The Gore family were from Tennessee. Nothing more is known of them except that Mary had a brother by the name of Tom.


Children were:

9

i.

Rosanna "Rose, Bee" Goodner.